As the NFL irregular season — anthem protests, Trump versus the league, player safety foibles, Raging Jerry Jones, what the hell is a catch anyway? — comes to an end, it is time to whet your appetite for the new year and the Super Bowl LII playoffs with the annual prestigious Serby Says Awards:

MVP: Tom Brady (Patriots) — Carson Wentz was the front runner and Antonio Brown was a legitimate threat to be the first wide receiver to win the award, but playing 16 games trumps playing 13 or 14. Brady has tailed off lately but not enough for rampaging RB Todd Gurley to steal the award. His 67.5 completion percentage is the second-best of his career. Remember, he lost Julian Edelman in training camp and never blinked (30 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 4,387 yards). The fire is still there, witness that sideline tirade at offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Even at 40, he remains Bill Belichick’s MVP, still permitted special privileges from his longtime trainer and TB12 business partner Alex Guerrero.

Offensive Player: Todd Gurley (Rams) — 1,305 rushing yards (4.7 average) with 13 TDs and 64 receptions for 788 yards and six TDs. Hard to believe he didn’t author a single 100-yard rushing game in 2016. You might not be off base suggesting Sean McVay’s offense is an upgrade over Jeff Fisher’s. Ben Roethlisberger has Le’Veon Bell. Jared Goff has Gurley.

Defensive Player: Calais Campbell (Jaguars) — A tremendous leader and force (14.5 sacks) for playoff-bound Sacksonville, who has provided Tom Coughlin bang for the four-year, $60 million free-agent bucks. Russell Wilson called unblockable Aaron Donald (11 sacks) the best defensive player he has ever faced, and if anyone deserves to be the first interior lineman to win the award since Warren Sapp in 1999, it would be this rolling ball of butcher knives drafted one pick behind Odell Beckham Jr.

Coach: Sean McVay (Rams) — Several worthy contenders, but raise your hand if you picked the Rams to win the NFC West. And raise your hand if you predicted a 28 TD-seven INT sophomore season for Goff. The 31-year-old QB whisperer (and people person) every NFL team craves. Runners-up: Mike Zimmer (Vikings), Doug Pederson (Eagles) and Doug Marrone (Jaguars).

Offensive Rookie: Alvin Kamara (Saints) — He had 111 rushing attempts for 684 yards and seven TDs to go along with 75 receptions for 742 yards and five TDs.

“He’s stronger than I thought he was, to be able to run through tackles and break tackles like he has has been amazing,” LaDainian Tomlinson told me recently. “I knew he had the ability to catch passes out of the backfield, run good routes, and I knew he could get on the perimeter and had good speed and all that kinda stuff, but his ability to run inside and break tackles, that’s the part of his game that will be sustainable to me, because at some point, people are not going to let you just get out on the perimeter. … I don’t like comparing guys to Hall of Famers, but he has a little Marshall Faulk in him. I think this is the way Sean Payton envisioned Reggie Bush being.”

Alvin KamaraUPI

Runner up: Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt (271-1,292-7 TDs rushing, 53-455-3 TDs receiving) was the early leader in the clubhouse but went seven consecutive games without a 100-yard game. And remember, Kamara shares the workoad with Mark Ingram. Jaguars battering ram Leonard Fournette (971 rushing yards, 32 receptions, 10 combined TDs) puts an exclamation point on The Return of the Running Back.

Defensive Rookie: Marshon Lattimore (Saints) — Shutdown corner (five INTs in 12 games) has been everything for the playoff-bound Saints that Jerry Reese hoped Eli Apple would be for the Giants. Barely edges Tre’Davious White (four picks in 15 games) in part because his impact could not end the Bills’ 17-year playoff drought. Steelers OLB T.J. Watt (six sacks, one INT) takes home the bronze medal.

Comeback Player: Keenan Allen (Chargers) — Hauled in 93 catches for 1,260 yards and five TDs over 15 games following a ruptured ACL in the 2016 opener. Runner up: TE Rob Gronkowski (69-1,084-8 TDs) played two fewer games, and earned a one-game suspension for his cheap shot that left Tre’Davious White concussed. The Serby Says Awards have a no-tolerance policy on dirty play.

Best Catch: DeAndre Hopkins (Texans) — Ask Mike Tirico, broadcasting the Christmas Day game against the Steelers, how awesome it was — tipping it from one hand to the other with Joe Haden draped over him and somehow keeping both feet inbounds.